PJO & HoO Headcanons

The Return

*I love Nico! He's so full of feels!*

*This is what I was really hoping for throughout the entire Heroes of Olympus series. I was just waiting for something like this to happen, and then.... nothing... anyways, ENJOY!*

~Setting: Nico in the underworld, after he told Hazel he had to leave Camp Jupiter for a while in The Son of Neptune.~

After Nico left, he couldn't stop thinking about Hazel. He was wondering if maybe this wasn't a good idea. His father needed him to do something important. He didn't know what it was yet, but he knew it had something to do with Gaea rising. He walked past the Fields of Punishment, past Asphodel, but stopped at Elysium. He stood there facing the paradise of the Underworld. His look traveled for miles. "Where is she?" he thought. It's been 4 long years since he's seen her. She was still there, he could feel it... she had to be... Suddenly a hand was on his shoulder. Nico looked up, it was his father, Hades, Lord of the Underworld himself.

"Father..." Nico did a small bow, "What do you want?"

Hades raised an eyebrow, "Mind your attitude boy."

Nico met his father's eyes, not even fazed, "What do you want this time?"

Hades let out a sigh, "Come with me my son." he led Nico back to his palace.

As soon as they walked through the doors, Nico saw a girl standing with her back facing them. She looked familiar... but he was sure it was random ghost his father summoned.

Hades led Nico to another room and didn't even mention the girl. "Okay," Nico started, "why did you bring me here?"

As they walked into the other room, he saw the girl turn her head slightly and saw a quick glimpse of her face. Could it be... no... it can't be.

"Nico," Hades began, "the Doors of Death..."

"What?"

"You have to locate them..."

"What?"

"You have to-"

"Yeah I heard you! I mean... why me?! I don't even know where to look!"

"Tartarus." there was silence, except for the sound of the torches burning.

"You..." Nico said in a quiet low voice, "you want me... to go to Tartarus... ME?!"

"And find the doors of death."

"Why can't you do it yourself?!" Nico was kind of angry, but he was also scared, he was being asked to go to the depths of Tartarus to find The Doors of Death.

Hades locked eyes with Nico, "You know why I can't... I'm barely able to maintain my godly forms. I can only hold this form long enough to tell you this."

Nico broke his father's stare. "...fine... I'll go..." and he stormed out of the room.

"Nico!" Hades called.

He stopped, "What?"

"You can't go alone-"

"Yes I can.."

"Nico-"

"Yes... I. Can."

"But you can't-"

"Watch me!" and he slammed the door behind him.

Nico stood outside the door staring at the ground. I can do it. Just watch me. I don't need your help. I don't need anyone! I can do it!

Then a voice spoke, "Not alone you can't." he looked up. There was the girl. she was still standing in the same spot, her back faced him.

"What was that?" he took a step towards her.